30 October 2018, Tue, 6:22

EC scraps Jamaat's registration; Secretary General condemns

Secretary General of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, Dr. Shafiqur Rahman has issued the following statement on 30 October 2018 expressing deep concern as the Election Commission has issued a gazette notification by cancelling the registration of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami.

“Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami attained registration from the election commission after fulfilling all the due conditions on 4 November 2008. Later, a bench comprising three justices of the High Court division was formed to conduct the hearing of a writ petition filed by Bangladesh Tarikat Federation in 2009. After a long hearing, honorable High Court delivered a split verdict on 1st August 2013. Presiding judge of the bench opined for upholding the registration, while rest of the two justices termed the registration as void and illegal. At the same time, the justices issued a certificate for appeal as the case is related to the constitutional matters.

On behalf of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, an appeal was immediately filed in the Appellate division. (Appeal case no: 139/2013)

As this registration case is still pending in the Appellate Division, so there is no room for the election commission to issue any such gazette or to scrap the registration of Jamaat-e-Islami. The issuance of the gazette by the election commission is purely intentional. This gazette notification is an act of disrespect towards the High Court. We are shocked and surprised at the role of the election commission.

We are vehemently protesting and condemning the issuance of this gazette notification and urging to withdraw it immediately.”